A5091806455- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Plant and animal studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Magnetic Properties and Applications
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Plant Ecology and Soil Science
- Innovative Energy Harvesting Technologies
- Smart Materials for Construction
- Ecosystem dynamics and resilience
- Climate change impacts on agriculture
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
Bureau of Land Management
2015-2024
University of California, Riverside
2018
Hollister (United States)
2010-2018
Kansas State University
2011
Oregon State University
2006
Summary The high cost of directly measuring habitat quality has led ecologists to test alternate methods for estimating and predicting this critically important ecological variable. In particular, it is frequently assumed but rarely tested that models suitability (‘species distribution models’, SDM s) may provide useful indices quality, either from an individual animal or manager's perspective. Critically, s are increasingly used estimate species’ ranges, with implicit assumption areas will...
Positive interactions enhance biodiversity and ecosystem function, but can also exacerbate biological invasions. Facilitation of exotic invaders by foundation species (invasional meltdown) has been studied extensively, facilitation native attracted less attention. Specifically, very few studies have examined the extent that facilitate competitors. Understanding processes mediate between help explain, predict, improve management Here, we effects shrubs on relative abundance annual plant...
Abstract Recognizing how climate change will impact populations can aid in making decisions about approaches for conservation of endangered species. The blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila) is a federally species that, despite protection, remains extremely arid, hot areas and may be at risk extirpation due to change. We collected data on the field-active body temperatures, preferred temperatures upper thermal tolerance G. sila. then described available habitat using biophysical models,...
Conservation science and environmental regulation are sibling constructs of the latter half 20th century, part a more general awakening to humanity's effect on natural world in wake 2 wars. Efforts understand evolution biodiversity using models population genetics data derived from DNA sequencing, paired with legal political mandates protect through novel laws, regulations, conventions arose concurrently. The extremely rapid rate development new molecular tools document compare genetic...
Abstract Deserts are increasing in extent globally, but existing deserts decreasing health. The basic biology and ecology of foundation plant species limited. This is a direct study that provides an estimate the capacity for locally dominant shrub California to recover from damage. Desert shrubs cleared damaged by humans many purposes including agriculture, oil gas production, sustainable energy developments; we need know whether consistently facilitate abundance diversity other plants...
Extreme weather events can provide unique opportunities for testing models that predict the effect of climate change. Droughts increasing severity have been predicted under numerous models, thus contemporary droughts may allow us to test these prior onset more extreme effects with a changing climate. In third year an ongoing severe drought, surveys failed detect neonate endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizards in subset previously surveyed populations where we expected see them. By conducting...
Abstract Globally, no species is exempt from the constraints associated with limited available habitat or resources, and endangered in particular warrant critical examination. In most cases, these are restricted to locations, relative likelihood of resource use within space they can access important. Using Gambelia sila , one first vertebrate listed as endangered, we used selection function analysis telemetry remotely sensed data identity key drivers selected versus locations for this...
Abstract Global climate change is already contributing to the extirpation of numerous species worldwide, and sensitive will continue face challenges associated with rising temperatures throughout this century beyond. It especially important evaluate thermal ecology endangered ectotherm now so that mitigation measures can be taken as early possible. A recent study federally Blunt‐nosed Leopard Lizard ( Gambelia sila ) suggested they major activity restrictions due constraints in their desert...
Animals can respond to extreme climates by behaviourally avoiding it or physiologically coping with it. We understand behavioural and physiological thermoregulation, but water balance has largely been neglected. Climate change includes both global warming changes in precipitation regimes, so improving our understanding of organismal is increasingly urgent. assessed the hydric physiology US federally endangered blunt-nosed leopard lizards (
Summary Environmental extremes resulting from a changing climate can have profound implications for plant interactions in desert communities. Positive buffer communities abiotic stress and consumer pressure caused by climatic extremes, but limited research has explored this empirically. We tested the hypothesis that mechanism of shrub facilitation on an annual community change with precipitation deserts. During years extreme drought above‐average rainfall desert, we measured biomass while...
A recent global trend toward retirement of farmland presents opportunities to reclaim habitat for threatened and endangered species. We examine restoration in one the world's most converted landscapes, California's San Joaquin Desert (SJD). Despite presence 35 species, agricultural expansion continues drive loss SJD, even as marginal is retired. Over next decades a combination factors, including salinization, climate change, historical groundwater overdraft, are projected lead more than...
The mechanisms supporting positive ecological interactions are important. Foundation species can structure desert biodiversity by facilitating seedbanks of annual plants, but the direct and indirect shrub effects on seedbank have not been experimentally decoupled. We conducted first test shrubs increasing densities through (i.e. seed-trapping, animal-mediated dispersal) plant community seed deposition, seed-trapping). Two distinct ecosystems were used to contrast transient in open microsites...
Genomic responses to habitat conversion can be rapid, providing wildlife managers with time-limited opportunities enact recovery efforts that use population connectivity information reflects predisturbance landscapes. Despite near-complete biome conversion, such may still exist for the endemic fauna and flora of California's San Joaquin Desert, but comprehensive genetic data sets are lacking nearly all species in region. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied rangewide structure endangered...
Preservation of desert ecosystems is a worldwide conservation priority. Shrubs can play key role in the structure communities and function as foundation species. Understanding shrub ecology therefore an important task conservation. A useful model for shrubs deserts ecological facilitation, which explores benefits that confer on their community. Facilitation has been well developed context shrub-plant interactions but less studied plant-animal interactions. We used radiotelemetry to test...
Numerous pressures influence the ecological capacity and health of drylands globally. Shrubs are often a critical component these systems can function positively as foundation species through facilitation other species. Nonetheless, limited attention has been paid to potential negative indirect effects shrubs. Here, we tested hypothesis that plant both accelerate invasion process amplify an invader on native community. The invasive Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens capitalized by resident shrub...
Abstract Arthropods underpin arid community dynamics and provide many key ecosystem services. In ecosystems, the habitat components that influence arthropod structure are relatively understudied. Ephedra californica is a locally abundant shrub now restricted to highly fragmented populations with established positive effects on plant vertebrate animal communities within drylands of Southern California. The capacity for these further support ground has not been examined. We tested hypothesis...
Abstract Questions Deserts ecosystems are threatened by shifts in precipitation patterns from climate change. Positive interactions among plants could buffer desert communities environmental extremes and resource limitations. However, to improve our ability predict the response of plant community change, we must examine role species identity facilitation. Here, asked: how do identity, soil nutrients, aridity drive positive along a regional gradient semi‐arid hyper‐arid. Location California,...
Abstract Positive associations between animals and foundational shrub species are frequent in desert ecosystems for shelter, resources, refuge, other key ecological processes. Herein, we tested the impact of density Ephedra californica on presence habitat use federally endangered lizard species, Gambelia sila . To do this, used a 3‐year radio telemetry dataset satellite‐based counts across sites at Carrizo Plain National Monument San Luis Obispo County, CA. The effect was contrasted with...
From a conservation management perspective it is important to understand how genetic diversity partitioned across species' range, including 1) identification of evolutionarily distinct units versus those recently isolated through anthropogenic activities and 2) the relative contributions among components fragmented (meta)populations. To address these questions, we investigated phylogeography metapopulation structure relict populations endangered giant kangaroo rat (Dipodomys ingens) in...
Carrizo Plain National Monument (San Joaquin Desert, California, USA) is home to many threatened and endangered species including the blunt-nosed leopard lizard (Gambelia sila). Vegetation dominated by annual grasses, shrubs such as Mormon tea (Ephedra californica), which of relevance our target species, federally listed lizard, likely also provides key ecosystem services. We used relatively nonintrusive camera traps, or trail cameras, capture interactions between animals these using a...
Abstract Telemetry has revolutionized studies in wildlife biology, ecology, physiology, and conservation. With the increased demand for telemetry, new technology made great strides to enable long harsh remote areas on a wide variety of study species. As climate crisis continues impact animals, temperature-sensing telemetry become helpful technique understanding effects change how protect from them. However, general still pose technological challenges accessibility issues researchers who use...